Bellingham summit explores intersection of addiction, mental health, justice
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The All Hands Whatcom summit used reentry simulations to show post-incarceration hurdles.
- Organizers emphasized lived experience to inform jail planning and policy reform.
- Whatcom County logged 763 suspected overdoses so far in 2025, urging cross-sector response.
“Your name is Leeland. You served 25 years in both state and federal prison for murder, felon in possession of a firearm and a past drug conviction.”
These lines were printed on top of one of the instruction papers for the reentry simulation hosted by Chuckanut Health Foundation as part of the two-day All Hands Whatcom summit Sept. 25-26.
“Leeland” was just one of the personas attendees were assigned to assume as as they navigated an approximation of what incarcerated individuals experience when they leave jail or prison.
Tables manned by formerly incarcerated individuals were set up around the Ferndale Event Center for the simulation. One was an ID card office; another, a transportation center, where people could use fake money to purchase the bus tickets needed to travel between the tables. There was also the Whatcom County Jail, where some ended up returning to after “failing” a urinalysis or deciding to commit a crime to potentially earn money.
After the first of four simulated weeks, about half of the participants hadn’t had the time or ability to buy food.
“It feels like a full-time job to survive,” one participant said.
As the simulation went on, more factors were added in. Some participants — including Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu — were given baby dolls to care for. A few decided to return to jail simply because it was easier. One woman was so tired by week three that she laid down on a row of chairs and “died.”
Up From Slavery Initiative founder and executive director Darryl Riley, who facilitated the simulation with Cristina Roark of Kitsap Strong, said the simulation is meant to give an “intimate, intricate look” at the barriers associated with reentry.
“This affects everyone,” Roark said.
Riley has lived experience with addiction and incarceration, which he used to enhance the U.S. Department of Justice’s basic template for reentry simulations. He and Roark have run the reentry simulation across the region, recently hosting one in Olympia for lawmakers.
Riley said he wants the lived experience of himself and others to help guide the development of reentry practices for the new Whatcom County Jail and Behavioral Care Center. The new jail, which the county hopes to have operational by 2028, was the focus of a panel that Riley helped facilitate the following day.
“We definitely want to be part of this work going forward,” Riley said.
He said he hopes that the steps that Whatcom County is taking with the new jail will serve as a catalyst for similar changes statewide.
Summit hosts panels, facilitates discussions
Following an afternoon of simulating and discussing reentry, attendees returned Thursday morning for a day of panel discussions surrounding the interconnectedness of opioid addiction and the criminal justice system.
Whatcom County has had 763 suspected overdoses in 2025 so far, according to Whatcom Overdose Prevention data. And in 2024, there were 83 confirmed or probable overdose deaths in the county.
Chuckanut Health Foundation Executive Director Heather Flaherty said an issue as complex as the opioid crisis requires professionals and advocates across various sectors to come together; but oftentimes, people remain working in their own separate silos. It’s why building relationships and collaborating was a primary goal of the summit, Flaherty said.
Flaherty said it’s also important for policymakers to hear from people with lived experiences rather than just reading statistics and articles about the issues. The county executive, council members and the mayors of Bellingham and Ferndale were just some of those in attendance Thursday. Attorneys from the public defender’s and prosecutor’s offices also participated.
“There’s a lot of thought into how we can infuse this event with love and care and really elevate the right voices to illustrate really well where we might be falling short as a community,” Flaherty said.
Wednesday and Thursday’s event was the third All Hands Whatcom summit, with previous years focusing on addiction in general and youth prevention and engagement. Flaherty said this year’s focus on incarceration was due in part to broader conversations in the community about the new jail.
“I hope that people saw that there is still a place for them to shape what gets built and where those dollars get directed,” Flaherty said.